The Gustatory Terminal "Conchiglie" in Akkeshi Town ②!

by Kazu

White-spotted char in other words
Japanese char swimming in the tank could be seen in Conchiglie, Akkeshi Town.

 The shells of the brand-name clam "Asari-emon" picked up in Akkeshi Bay and oysters were also displayed .

 Until decades ago, the bay were filled with the wild oysters as shown on the photo on the left and in the building of Conchiglie. That was amazing.

The building of Conchiglie had a small aquarium called "Petit".

This is the entrance of the aquarium.

We were treated to this Oyster Mocha ice cream that included condensed oyster sauce. Thank you so much,Mr. Kato ! We got the second wing before landing on the small island called "Kojima" where we would stay and experience so beautiful and hard days.
It was the time to rock'n roll !

Otokoyama Japanese Sake Brewery in Asahikawa City !

by Tacky in Asahikawa City.

 Do you know where the coldest temperature was recorded in Japan?
 The place was not on the top of Mt. Fuji.  On January 25th, 1902, the coldest temperature of minus forty one degree in Celsius was recorded in Asahikawa City.


　

In this coldest Asahikawa City, there are two breweries of Japanese sake. They are "Takasagosyuzou" and "Otokoyamasyuzou". Japanese sake has been produced since 1899 in each.
 I think some of you may wonder if it has been possible to produce Japanese sake since such long time ago because Japanese sake is made from rice and Hokkaido was said not to be appropriate place to grow rice crop.

Well, rice growing also became possible by around 1890 even in Asahikawa City.
Sake brewing in Asahikawa City at the northern end of Japan started at that time.
 It's said that the total amount of Japanese sake produced in Asahikawa City accounts for nearly 30 percent of the total production in whole Hokkaido in 1924. The following
factors are sited as the reasons why Japanese sake brewery prospered in Asahikawa City.

Reason 1:  There is rich groundwater necessary to make Japanese sake.
Reason 2  The cold climate of Asahikawa City was suitable for
production of sake in winter.
Reason 3  The population of Asahikawa City increased rapidly from around 1900.
　


　
Brewing sake has been started in coldest Asahikawa City, when I visited. The work starts from around November and continues until around March.
 It was the midst of sake brewing work in the Otokoyamasyuzou  I visited. The
old tools for sake brewing was exhibited in the museum of Otokoyama-shuzou.

 When I look at the items displayed in the museum, I could so easily imagine the tough situation to have started to make Japanese sake in the harsh climate of the northern island as it was made in the main island of Japan that it was so impressive.

 The present sake brewing is performed in the squeaky clean factory in which the temperature is strictly controlled. But sake made in Hokkaido doesn't get high evaluation from a
consumers even now. A breweries in Hokkaido sometimes are criticized that the material rice is not produced in Hokkaido.

 I think there will be a lot of trouble before sake made in Hokkaido will get
high evaluation from now on.
 But I felt "Originality was required to the goods for taste. So the new original and most appropriate way to make sake in the northern cold circumstances should be researched and the material rice and the way to grow them should be improved as well. I want the sake breweries in Hokkaido to continue such effort.

　
　

The Gustatory Terminal "Conchiglie" in Akkeshi Town !

by Kazu

One of the top runners of branding in Hokkaido is "Conchiglie in Akkeshi Town. Needless to say, the ladies had to pay a courtesy call to the president of the terminal, Mr. Kato who looked like a real go-getter.

He never gave up in his business and promoting Akkeshi Town. He called the shot to maximize the exposure. His strategy sounded so nice and equivalent to ours. How could I say ? Yes, he was indomitable, unyielding.  

I was not sure the ladies would be able to outstrip Mr. Kato in branding strategy but expected some kinds of chemical reaction.

 This lunch set was one of the best sellers in the restaurant run by Mr. Kato. Conchiglie had three restaurants in its building.
This oyster doria set was so nice to have. It was the marriage of the milk on the land and the ocean.

Please check out the details at http://www.conchiglie.net/
Believe me ! It was worthwhile !

Suzuki Ryokan in Akkeshin Town !

by Kazu

After finished all the program on the Day 2, we came back to the accommodation Naipal Akkeshi and found the herd of deer on the lawn surrounding the building.
Unfortunately, I could not book myself in the same accommodation.

So I stayed in the traditional Japanese inn "Suzuki Ryokan " in Akkeshi Town. It costs 6,000 Japanese yen per night and enabled me to savor these dishes for dinner.

Fried oyster, steamed oyster and grilled brand-name "Daikoku Samma" that means pacific saury were the "must" to have in the inn.

 These were what you saw in the labo of the Shouyou High School. Grilled Japanese conchs were flavored with soy sauce.

Sushi-grade squid and Pacific saury were also served with green horse radish and radish sprout.
The outlook of the inn is at
http://nttbj.itp.ne.jp/0153527171/index.html

 Grilled Japanese conch fit to a T with beer and Japanese sake. I did not have to take care of the ladies in the night. So I kicked back and relaxed so much but I had to pack up my luggage for two night-stay on the isolated island called "Kojima".

To be continued.

The Laboratory of the high school !

by Kazu

The ladies were escorted to the laboratory where the high school students were learning.  A variety of aquatic creatures were raised in the tanks.  

Two small Sturgeon were nurtured in the bucket.

Neon tetra and other popular tropical fish were also raised in the labo.

Can you find the baby conch shells in the water ?

These were grown conch shells. These are called "Tsubu Gai" or "Ezo Bai Gai" in Japanese and I love the taste and crisp touch. I may prefer them to expensive abalones.
Have you got something, ladies ?

Chemical reaction might have happened ?

by Kazu

The ladies visited Hokkaido Akkeshi Shouyou High School and paid a courtesy call to the Principal Mr. Serizawa and the Vice -principal Mr.Kimura.

 The high school produces the chef in the ships and fishermen as well as the seafood technician. The would-be chefs in the ship are so popular that the companies that are eager to hire the chefs for fleets snap up for the green boys and girls who will graduate.  

Expecting their ability to adjust and manage to respond to unexpected situation, I had not given the ladies enough briefing on the
contents of this meeting.

Actually, one of the ladies asked me not to do such surprising arrangement that required their quick response without enough preparation. But such kinds of training and actual tough situations will be here and there around them in not-so-distanced future, absolutely.  It might be the beginning of their of their wonderful surprising environment. Yes, it just started !

To be honest, I was really satisfied with the ability of the ladies to adjust to the situation. I thought they could shared the uncertainty of the future with the high school students who also are being suffered from the ambiguity of their future.  

Service Shots !

by Kazu

It might be tough even for the ladies who had got used to being taken photos, to keep their eating pose for minutes in "A-Uroko" Marche Frais run by Fishermen's Association in Akkeshi Town.

But as the service shot for the association that gave them compliment steamed oysters, their posing might be a natural and reasonable response to be shown.

After leaving "A-Uroko" Marche Frais in Akkeshi Town, we had to adjust the schedule of Day  2 in Akkeshi Town. So we dropped by a organic confectionery shop in the outskirt of Akkeshi !  

It was so nice to have a break to settle down gradually in the town and to savor the ice cream made from the tasty milk sourced locally.
Moritaka Ranch run this ice cream shop on the west side of the town.
Please show the name and address

森高牧場

日本 北海道厚岸郡厚岸町宮園1丁目375
 and some kind citizens will take you to the shop where tasty cheese could be also purchased.